Rig Project number 100 to Westcon Yard

At the arrival of West Alpha, the rig project number 100 for Westcon Yard, rig manager Malvin Eide reports of still good capacity at the yard. He finds the experience, competence and infrastructure at Westcon to be the company’s advantages in the competition for additional projects.

At the end of last week the drill rig West Alpha entered the quay at Westcon Yard in Olen. The rig project is number 100 since Westcon targeted the marked for rig modifications and maintenance in 1994.

“For almost 20 years we have built an experienced organization with high competence and implementation capacity. Additionally we have an infrastructure that allows us to solve complex projects for our clients in an effective way”, says rig manager Malvin Eide, and adds:

“Our project organization is dedicated, welded together and with a sound, incorporated HSE culture. We can also provide good quays, modern lifting cranes and rig access towers, and accommodation for a large number of workers”, Eide says.

Since 1994, Westcon has invested more than NOK 600 million in improvements of the yard in Olen, and this and next year additionally NOK 200 million will be invested in new costumer offices, expansion of production facilities and extended accommodation. The rig manager explains that the infrastructure of Westcon Yard also includes access to high competence within several technical fields through sister companies such as Westcon Løfteteknikk and Westcon Power & Automation.

Rigs return

The accommodation rig Safe Britannia was the first rig project at Westcon in April 1994. Since then a large number of the rigs operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf has been visiting Olen, and several have also returned. In total approximately 50 drilling and accommodation rigs make out the 100 rig projects at Westcon Yard. Additionally there have been numerous rig projects offshore.

“When rig owners return with their rigs we understand this as a signal that we do some things rightly. Our skilled workers work hard to deliver according to the costumers requirements, and it is a great advantage when we now the rig and the organization from previous projects”, Eide says.

According to estimates by Weston a total of 76 rigs will need five-year classification (SPS – Special Periodic Surveys) within 2020. Malvin Eide says that the major rig yards will be able to handle these projects.

“Despite of many projects coming up we still have good capacity from the second half of 2013. Many wishes to start out in this market and the competition will make us continuously improve and deliver high quality”, he says.